In the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior who died and rose again for the redemption of a fallen humanity; and

In the Spirit, who calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the Christian church and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the faith.

The congregation further accepts the canonical scripture of the Old and New Testaments as the divinely inspired and revealed Word of God and the only authority in all matters of faith and life. As brief and true statements of the doctrine of the Word of God, the congregation accepts the following: The Apostolic, the Nicene, and the Athanasian Creeds; the Unaltered Augsburg Confession; Luther’s Small and Large Catechism; and the Book of Concord of 1580.

ARTICLE III: SYNOD AFFILIATION

The congregation is a member of the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC). To sever membership in the LCMC, a two-thirds majority vote is required of a quorum of the voting members present and by proxy and voting at a duly called congregational meeting. To become effective, the decision to sever must be ratified by a two-thirds majority vote of a quorum of the voting members present and by proxy and voting at a duly called congregational meeting held at least ninety days after the initial vote was taken. To join another synod, the same procedure will be followed.

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP (MEMBERSHIP)

As identified in the bylaws, members of the congregation are those individuals who accept and abide by its constitution and bylaws.

Congregation: The body of people consisting of those individuals received as members of New Hope Lutheran Church, LCMC according to Article IV of these bylaws.

Confirmed Member: An individual received into the fellowship of the congregation according to Article IV, Section 2, of these bylaws.

Member: An individual received into the fellowship of the congregation according to Article IV of these bylaws.

Associate Member: An individual holding duel memberships within New Hope and within another Christian congregation according to Article IV, Section 4, of these bylaws.

Member In Good Standing: An individual participating in Holy Communion; contributing financially to the congregation; and participating in the life and worship of the congregation.

Members will consider it a privilege and duty to use the means of grace, both Word and sacraments, to live a Christian life in accordance with the Word of God and the teachings of the Lutheran Church, and to support the work of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ.

ARTICLE V: AUTHORITY

In all matters of Christian faith and life, the authority of the Word of God is supreme. In the administration of all other affairs, the congregation is governed by its constitution, bylaws, and decisions of the duly called congregational meeting. For the purposes of this constitution, a quorum is ten per cent of the voting members.

ARTICLE VI: PASTORS

Only individuals who accept and pledge faithful adherence to the confessions of the congregation as set forth in the Preamble and Article II of this Constitution and are clergy of, and/or recommended for consideration by the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, can be called to serve as pastors of New Hope.

ARTICLE VII: MINISTRIES

All ministries within the congregation are to be established as provided for in the constitution and bylaws. The pastor(s) by virtue of his or her pastoral duties will be the advisor(s) for all ministries.

ARTICLE VIII: LEGAL OWNERSHIP

All property that is acquired by the congregation will be held, owned, and titled in the name of the congregation. The congregation’s real property will not be purchased, disposed of, or encumbered in any manner except as approved by a two-thirds majority vote of a quorum of the voting members present and voting at a duly called congregational meeting.

To terminate the congregation’s existence, a two-thirds majority vote of a quorum of the voting members present and by proxy voting at a duly called congregational meeting is required. Should the congregation disband, title to its land and other estates, real and personal must be used for charitable purposes as directed by a two-thirds majority vote of a quorum of the voting members present and voting at a duly called congregational meeting.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION

The doctrinal basis and confessional subscription contained in Article II of the constitution are unalterable.

The congregation must be notified of any proposed amendments to the constitution by mail and an announcement at each Sunday worship service not less than four consecutive weeks prior to their consideration at a duly called congregational meeting. The amendments must be approved, with or without change, by a two-thirds majority vote of a quorum of the voting members present and voting at the duly called congregational meeting. To become effective and without change, it must be ratified by a two-thirds majority vote of a quorum of the voting members present and voting at a duly called congregational meeting held at least ninety days after the initial vote was taken. If the proposed amendments fail, after a six month period has passed, the proposed amendments may be amended by a majority vote of those present and voting; and ratified, without change, by a two-thirds majority vote of a quorum of the voting members present and voting at a duly called congregational.

ARTICLE X: BYLAWS AND AMENDMENTS

The congregation will adopt and amend bylaws as allowed by this article. The congregation must be notified of any proposed amendments to the bylaws by mail and an announcement at each Sunday worship service not less than four consecutive weeks prior to their consideration at a duly called congregational meeting. They must be approved, with or without change, by a two-thirds majority vote of a quorum of the voting members present and voting at the duly called congregational meeting.